tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-324289052012-01-06T09:11:54.056+10:00domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-37350084801941691702010-06-22T10:11:00.002+10:002010-06-22T10:19:07.093+10:00

This is a picture of Lilli Ann and Marvin Rosenberg with me in Melbourne at the AIMC in 2004.It was one of those special moments meeting people who had worked all their lives in Public Art and offering inspiration to us new "kids". I heard Marvin had recently passed away and was reminded of the short but great time I spent with him at the conference.

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-53923012702286532072010-05-01T14:38:00.002+10:002010-05-01T14:46:15.103+10:00

Here's a shot of us under the pump with 3 days to go and then with the work finished.It was hot up there on that scaffold but no different to what I'm used to in Cairns.

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-50452846339834177152010-05-01T14:02:00.004+10:002010-05-01T14:37:29.092+10:00

Well experiences come and go and the recent collaboration in Penang at Hotel Penaga has left me much richer for the experience.Helen Bodycomb(Aust), George Fishman(USA), Glenn Romanis(Aust) and myself got together for a month to work on a collaborative piece called "The shyness of trees" for patrons Angela and Hijjas Kasturi.The shyness phenomena relates to the space that intersects adjacent

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-70648362511392672872010-02-12T09:04:00.004+10:002010-02-15T14:25:00.118+10:00

The start of the year in Cairns is an intense time as the tropical heat can be hard to endure making those affected by it somewhat poached in 4 months of steamy humidity. Often business is slow and cash flows dry up waiting for people to pick up the ball and start working at their business. I often use this time to review my past performance and sort out my usually jumbled computer in preparation

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-15276109740921154642009-07-14T16:47:00.003+10:002009-07-14T17:19:50.621+10:00

You've got to hand it to Brett Campbell. I think he has almost single handedly captured the web in the marketing of mosaics. I can even remember when he told me in Sydney " Guess what...no one has registered the domain 'Mosaics.com' ". Well he did and the rest is history.We met years ago in Melbourne at an AIMC and have been friends ever since. How could you not like someone that threw in a Bank

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-2837241044781698122009-06-29T17:39:00.002+10:002009-06-29T17:51:03.718+10:00

My last trip to Europe(my first also) saw us make a beeline for the north and visit the beautiful town of Spilimbergo. It was a great chance to visit the Scuola Mosaicisti Del Friuli and catch up with my friend Carolina Zanelli. Here is a photo of Carolina in her studio holding one of her favourite works in stone and also one of her holding her new product "Zanoleum"(Pat. Pending). Carolina is a

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-24689485451096284422009-06-29T17:10:00.003+10:002009-06-29T17:35:30.569+10:00

The guy with the mo is my friend George Fishman. I met him in Melbourne and many years later went to Miami to visit him and his wife Nancy. Arriving with the usual bottle of Bombay Blue Sapphire gin, I was able to allay the jetlag over a prawn gumbo and the usual mosaic talk. George has a keen

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-23894760665700857212009-06-29T16:55:00.006+10:002009-11-12T14:31:14.855+10:00

In my travels, I always make the attempt to visit the people who work in my field. Working in isolation is often a lonely experience and therefore I am keen to attend various gatherings of peers in the form of conferences/ symposiums and the like. It was at an International conference in Melbourne, that I met Anna Minardo. She was the one who introduced me to smalti and her work in stone and

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-87531519435791141892009-06-04T16:01:00.003+10:002009-06-04T16:20:13.511+10:00

So now I can finally say " Yes I have been to Barcelona!", and "Yes, I have see all the Gaudi..."It was all worth it even if it did cost a small fortune. I was surprized that a lot of what I thought were mosaics were actually painted effects. Now there's a thought...should be a lot quicker.Anyway, the two months were full of mosaics that kept popping up like mushrooms.For the record, my favourite

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-66133805921850697322009-02-14T15:35:00.002+10:002009-02-14T15:41:24.230+10:00

This is my latest portrait for the annual Blunt Edge of Portraiture. It is of well known Cairns artist Ed Koumans and is made with stone, smalti and porcelain. I chose to leave the background to give the work a different depth. The work received the People's Choice Award on opening night. Cheers.

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-46273827309960546542008-09-02T15:35:00.002+10:002008-09-02T15:44:14.840+10:00

I'm back...had the pedal to the metal lately - been having the usual problems with saying "No" to all those customers. Anyway...I do aim to please and it's always refreshing when a new Upholstery Contemporary Arts Show comes along and forces you to work weekends to wow the punters with something new made in the name of Art. This mosaic of the great titillatress Marilyn was made using 60 colours

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-78247915631734281092008-05-27T16:40:00.001+10:002008-05-27T16:46:44.836+10:00

This is a great fountain done by Kim Emerson. She works predominantly in ceramic for her outdoor public art projects. A great, weel thought out piece.

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-20581961666235434602008-05-27T16:20:00.005+10:002008-05-27T16:39:22.878+10:00

There I was on a beautiful sunny day in Escondido, California admiring the wonderful work of Niki De Saint Phalle - thinking I'm glad I put this on the itinery. Helen Bodycomb and myself were lucky to be escorted there by local mosaicist Kim Emerson who's great work is all over Southern California. We also spent a magic day in Mexico with Aida Valencia who is a great mosaicist with a true sense

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-37912993658240435302008-03-26T09:40:00.005+10:002008-03-26T09:55:06.177+10:00

Oops....I forgot to include a pic of what the Mangrove whelk looks like in the environment, so here it is. By the way, when cooked for a few minutes in boiling water, they taste a bit like a muddy abalone. And there's one of me working upsidedown with my trusty piping bag.

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-86390647956703284682008-03-26T09:18:00.003+10:002008-03-26T09:39:39.821+10:00

It's time for the American Mosaic Symposium(SAMA), and Helen Bodycomb and I are heading there to take part. I've never been to the States before so I'm pretty keyed up. It's gonna be a blast - Miami, Chicago, San Diego and most probably Tijuana. We've spent 6 months working towards this and are looking forward to extending the network of fellow mosaicists. There's a trip to Gianni Versace's house

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-4770498491483567892008-03-26T08:55:00.002+10:002008-03-26T09:16:44.402+10:00

It's been hot and steamy up here in Far North Queensland for the past few months. The monsoon season is not my ideal working environment, but time waits for no one and there is much to be done. Having recently been awarded another public art commission, I have been hard at it, working to complete 'Telescopus' before travelling to Miami USA to attend SAMA - the Society of American Mosaic Artists,

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-77189835857187340722007-12-27T18:02:00.000+10:002007-12-27T18:26:28.981+10:00

Comes a time when you get roped in to a portrait show....we just had one recently called "The Blunt Edge of Portraiture", as opposed to the cutting edge. Archibalds aside, this was a fun exhibition where 38 local Cairn's artists got together to produce portraits of other artists( names where drawn out of a hat) in any medium, A3 was the set size( lot's of people disregarded this) and an

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-72307748193360502392007-12-20T11:53:00.000+10:002008-02-06T13:07:31.339+10:00

Here's the latest pool created by the great team at Shardworks for an Emperor at Edge Hill. Mosaics were all constructed in the studio over a month and installation took place over a week in the most trying tropical conditions of the Cairns HOT season. Have a great xmas and a happy new year to everyone. Stay tuned for the next post which will outline a large sculptural work to be situated as

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-80610906711447625922007-09-12T13:39:00.000+10:002007-12-27T17:50:58.361+10:00

There I was, running late for my plane on the way back from a Sydney trip........when something caught my eye. I managed to stop and photograph the relics of a demolished tile shop that had some great artifacts from early Bisazza years. The green gold with random broken edges, early retro ceramic pattern work from Japan, it was all there. Enjoy.

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-54694940682402708382007-08-17T15:17:00.001+10:002007-12-27T17:55:13.187+10:00

I don't often do a lot of smalti work, but here's a little piece called "Blue grail" that I did for the Cairns Regional Gallery's 'Hidden Treasures' show. I saw a blue rose for the first time in Melbourne a while ago and was captivated by it. Human's quest to alter genetics has always fascinated me and it is often an underlying theme within my arts practice. I actually did this work as a study

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-12671085217846671282007-08-17T14:16:00.001+10:002007-08-17T15:00:56.861+10:00

Ceramic and phosphorescent glass tile on toughened glass.2100x1370mm.Death happens. You get that.Our society is good at ignoring death, but more than a reminder of own mortality, it has become a symbol that has pervaded our popular culture to the point of fascination. We use the imagery to desesitise the very nature of death. I have drawn on this aspect as my inspiration for this work.Using this

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-9743899794722478072007-08-17T14:16:00.000+10:002007-12-27T17:44:53.513+10:00

Neon Skull 2007 Ceramic and phosphorescent glass tile on toughened glass(PLUS a gold cap) Size: 2130 x 1360mm. Statement. Death happens. You get that.

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-43483516201033723622007-06-18T13:48:00.000+10:002007-06-18T14:10:23.046+10:00

My web mistress recently castigated me for not keeping up to date with my blog so this is an attempt at catching up.Just got back from Sydney where I viewed the Mosaic Now touring show at the Mosman Regional Gallery. Great to see these works again after a year and good to see them in the one room this time. If you can make it go and see this show as it really is an intriguing show. Captivating

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-1165803153847810002006-12-11T12:10:00.000+10:002007-06-18T15:09:58.160+10:00

Hi all who look at this,It's been a while (again) since I posted anything on da blog so here's an update.....The steamy Cairns weather is back and another year is almost kaput. It has been a weird year for me in the world of mosaic. The highs and lows of trying to survive as a fulltime artist have been most informative. Yep, that's 4 years with Shardworks now and I'm still there for 2007.The "

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-1160723720518673562006-10-13T17:04:00.000+10:002007-06-18T15:18:26.607+10:00

Back again....haven't had much spare time to rave lately, been under the weather and just generally going hard. Latest thing was a installation at the Community Centres and Family Support Network Assoc. Queensland (mouthful) Common Ground Conference.So how does this relate to mosaics?Well they wanted something to reinforce the conference values along a creative participatory line so I decided to

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-1159167745818263342006-09-25T16:51:00.000+10:002007-06-18T15:26:25.329+10:00

Last Friday night saw the opening of "when I grow up...I wanna be.." at the Cairns Regional Gallery. We ( my friends and I) all enjoyed a balmy tropical night on the deck at Perotta's with some ale's and yummy food and several trips to the windows where the work is on display. My thanks to all who attended and thanks to the Gallery staff who helped me get things together.So if you are in Cairns,

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-1157693287862211542006-09-08T15:20:00.000+10:002007-06-18T15:34:36.325+10:00

Had a visitor this week. Janet Keen from NZ who I met at the Australian Symposium in Sydney last year. I had to think whether it was this April gone or last year. Yep... time is racing by.Visits from fellow mosaicists are a rare treat up here. I was lucky enough to have David Jack visit earlier this year ( a real treat) and the opportunity to show him the studio. So if you are coming to cairns

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-1156830266326983782006-08-29T15:33:00.000+10:002007-06-18T15:39:11.619+10:00

The last few weeks have seen a steady increase in the temperature. Summer is not far away and I'm not really looking forward to the heat. Since the Upholstery exhibition I have been busy developing some new work which will be available from the gallery section soon. What is it???You'll just have to wait and see...Last week another landmark site in Cairns was bulldozed to make way for the new...I

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-1155173049316689892006-08-10T11:16:00.001+10:002006-08-11T12:32:00.783+10:00

Just do it! Been dragging my feet lately, all this change around me. Had a scary moment when my landlord sold the studio off. Bit of a shake up if you know what I mean....Anyway that's all sorted and the new landlord is an ok guy even if the rent is going up.So this blog is about pickin up the pace and building something new...Active minds breed creativity but ya gotta get up andJust do it!

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32428905.post-1155089216019124382006-08-09T12:06:00.000+10:002006-10-19T18:23:15.086+10:00

This is a forum where i can keep you up to date on whats happening with Shardworks. Please feel free to make comments.Stay Tuned!CheersDom

domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10928487912233016975noreply@blogger.com3